Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserlem’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserlem’, characterized by its medium yellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, and upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserlem’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserlem’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in SantaPaula, Calif. during June 2006. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely floweringwith unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact, andupright growth habit.

The new Osteospermum cultivar was the result of a self-pollination ofthe proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding selection designated10925-1, not patented, characterized by its bright yellow-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, uprightgrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollinationduring February 2007 in a controlled environment at Santa Paula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceFebruary 2007 at Santa Paula, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserlem’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Medium yellow-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, and upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily inflower color, flower size and growth habit. The new cultivar has adifferent shade of flower color, larger flowers, and a more moundedgrowth habit.

Of the many commercially available Osteospermum cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is TRADEWINDS Pure Yellow‘Oste Yel’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,050. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Oste Yel’in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different        from plants of ‘Oste Yel’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller inflorescence        diameter than plants of ‘Oste Yel’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller disc diameter than        plants of ‘Oste Yel’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balserlem’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balserlem’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balserlem’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in May 2009 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Balserlem:-   Parentage:    -   -   Female and male parents.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis            breeding selection designated 10925-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 32            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 13 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous and            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 28.4 cm. Width: Approximately 18.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle:            Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length            of central internode: Approximately 4.5 mm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming perpendicular            to an obtuse angle with age. Shape: Spatulate. Margin:            Widely dentate. Apex: Acute becoming rounded with age. Base:            Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 5.1 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface            of young foliage: 138B with venation of 144D. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145B. Color            of lower surface of mature foliage: 138A with venation of            144D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Mixture of glandular and            non-glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            145B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balserlem’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal,            held above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and            ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance:            Slight. Quantity per plant: Approximately 2. Diameter:            Approximately 7.3 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 19.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            144B.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 2.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: 154B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 26.            Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect: Initially            at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at maturity.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with            three tips. Base: Attenuate, fused to form a tube. Length:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Glabrous with a densely pubescent base. Color of upper            surface when first open: Base of 4C transitioning toward            apex to 5A. Color of lower surface when first open: Between            5B and 5C. Color of upper surface when fully open: Base of            4D transitioning toward apex to 5B. Color of lower surface            when fully open: 5C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 126.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:            Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base:            Attenuate, fused. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter at            apex: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with a sparsely pubescent outer            surface. Color when fully open: Closest to 155D and base of            144D.        -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Depth: Approximately            5.0 mm.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 154D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 26.            Arrangement: In a single whorl. Shape: Linear to lanceolate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture            of upper or inner surface: Densely pubescent at tip. Texture            of lower or outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless. Color of upper or inner surface: 138B. Color of            lower or outer surface: 138A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around the style.            Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: N186A.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 21A. Gynoecium:            Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per            floret. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape:            Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: N186A.            Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: Colorless,            transparent. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            color: 144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Osteospermum has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserlem’,substantially as herein shown and described.